The document discusses a study conducted by the CSA in Belgium on gender representations in television, revealing that women represent only 36.88% of appearances and those over 65 account for 3.74%, indicating double discrimination. It highlights that while there is some equality in representations of young people, prestigious roles remain predominantly occupied by women. The findings suggest a need for ongoing quantitative surveys and a better understanding of media practices to improve gender equality in media representations.

1. HOW GENDER REPRESENTATIONS MATTER
WITH GENERATION IN TELEVISION?
Bertrand Levant
Conseil supérieur de l’audiovisuel (CSA),
Belgium

2. HOW GENDER REPRESENTATIONS MATTER WITH
GENERATION IN TELEVISION?
SURVEYS:SURVEYS:
• Lead by CSA: Broadcasting regulatory authority of the
French speaking community of Belgium (FSCB)
• On FSCB medias own productions: 26p
channels
• People appearing on TVp pp g
• Five main criteria of investigation : gender,
age origin profession disabilityage, origin, profession, disability

3. HOW GENDER REPRESENTATIONS MATTER WITH
GENERATION IN TELEVISION?
SURVEYS:SURVEYS:
• 3 « global » on Diversity and equality in the• 3 « global » on Diversity and equality in the
FSCB audiovisual media : 2011, 2012, 2013
1 ifi l t ti• 1 « specific » on young people representations
in the FSCB media : 2013
• 2013 global survey:
– More than 64.000 people indexed
– More than 400 hours of programs

4. HOW GENDER REPRESENTATIONS MATTER WITH
GENERATION IN TELEVISION?
MAIN RESULTS:MAIN RESULTS:
• Women only 36,88% of appearances (50,92%
in Belgian society)
• > 65 years old only 3,74% of appearances
(17,65% in Belgian society)
• Both sex/age criteria : double discrimination forBoth sex/age criteria : double discrimination for
women appearing on TV
• Quasi equality of M/W appearances in the• Quasi equality of M/W appearances in the
specific survey on young people representation
on TVon TV

5. HOW GENDER REPRESENTATIONS MATTER WITH
GENERATION IN TELEVISION?
DOUBLE DISCRIMINATIONDOUBLE DISCRIMINATION

6. HOW GENDER REPRESENTATIONS MATTER WITH
GENERATION IN TELEVISION?
QUASI EQUALITYQUASI EQUALITY

7. HOW GENDER REPRESENTATIONS MATTER WITH
GENERATION IN TELEVISION?
EXPLAINING FACTORS
• Two indicators used : identifiable
occupations and rolesoccupations and roles
• Predominant place of prestigious jobs
h d TVshowed on TV
• Prestigious job = prestigious rolePrestigious job prestigious role
More strongly for women (88,42%
VS 81 12%)VS 81,12%)

8. HOW GENDER REPRESENTATIONS MATTER WITH
GENERATION IN TELEVISION?

9. HOW GENDER REPRESENTATIONS MATTER WITH
GENERATION IN TELEVISION?
ARGUMENT
The nature of appearance contexts gives
a partial explanation:a partial explanation:
– Strong social differentiation M/W
inequalityinequality
– Weak social differentiation M/W equality

10. HOW GENDER REPRESENTATIONS MATTER WITH
GENERATION IN TELEVISION?
ARGUMENT
Generation Individual socialVS
membership status
VS
ELDER
YOUTH
ELDER
PEOPLE

11. HOW GENDER REPRESENTATIONS MATTER WITH
GENERATION IN TELEVISION?
STRUCTURING AND STRUCTURAL
FACTORS:
• Media Practices
• Societal realities: (un)employement
• Generational dynamics: (high) level of education• Generational dynamics: (high) level of education

12. HOW GENDER REPRESENTATIONS MATTER WITH
GENERATION IN TELEVISION?
2 KINDS OF CONCLUSION:
• The picture is pessimistic
• In real time, we can be optismistic only if:In real time, we can be optismistic only if:
– We have quantitative surveys for the coming years
– We better understand media practices and theWe better understand media practices and the
realities (or difficulties) that restrain them to
represent better gender equality
Agenda setting, sensibilisation, good
practicespractices

13. HOW GENDER REPRESENTATIONS MATTER WITH
GENERATION IN TELEVISION?
Thank you for your attention
bertrand.levant@csa.be
http://www.csa.be/diversite